False twisting apparatus

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for false-twisting a thread by means of friction elements, comprising three rotatably mounted spindles, each provided with at least one rotationally symmetrical friction element, the spindles lying at the corners of an equilateral triangle in plan view, so that the thread passes between the friction elements in a zigzag path. The spindles can be locked or simultaneously adjusted while maintaining their triangular relationship and relative positions with relation to the path of the thread.

United States Patent 1191 1111 3,885,378 Schuster May 27, 1975 [54]FALSE TWISTING APPARATUS 2,939,269 6/1960 Dobson 57/77.4 3,287,89011/1966 McIntosh et al.... 57/77.4 [751 Invent: Flledrlch schuste"Hammelburg, 3,762,149 10/1973 Raschle 1. 57/774 Germany 3,811,258 5/1974Batsch 57/7745 x [73] Assignee: Kugelfischer Georg Schafer & Co.,

Schweinfurt Germany Primary ExaminerDonald Watkins Attorney, Agent, orFirm-Edward R. Weingram [22 Filed: Apr. 12, 1974 21 Appl. N0.: 460,45957 ABSTRACT Apparatus for false-twisting a thread by means of fric- [30]Foreign Application Priority Data tion elements, comprising threerotatably mounted Apr. 16 1973 Germany 2319153 Spindles each Providedwith at least symmetrical friction element, the spindles lying at the 52us. (:1 57 7745; 57/774 eemers of an equilateral triangle in P view. sothat 51 Int. Cl. D02g 1/04; D02g 1/00 the thread Passes between thefrietien elements in a 581 Field of Search 57/34 R, 77.4, 77.45 Zigzag PThe Spindles be leeked er Simultaneously adjusted while maintainingtheir triangular re- [56] References Cited lationship and relativepositions with relation to the UNITED STATES PATENTS Path the 2,923,1212/l960 Tully 57/774 10 Claims, 3 Drawing gur s PATENTEDMAY 27 ms sum 0 2UP 2 Fig. 3

FALSE TWISTING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l. Field of theInvention This invention relates to textile apparatus and, moreparticularly, to apparatus for false-twisting thread.

2. Description of the Prior Art In my copending application, applicationSer. No. 441,209, filed Feb. I l, 1974, a false-twisting apparatus isdescribed having a plurality of spindles which position serveralfriction elements in overlapping arrangement to cause a thread passingthrough the apparatus to follow a zig-zag path.

The positioning and therefore the adjustment of the friction elements isan important factor in the operation of such a device. The overlap andspacing of the friction elements will greatly affect the stress that isapplied to the thread by the machine. The overlapping arrangement of thefriction elements makes it difficult to thread, i.e. operativelyposition new thread, in the apparatus. Further, because of thedifficulty in properly threading the apparatus, high stresses can beimposed on the newly-installed thread during start up of the devicewhich might break the thread. The spindles can be moved to an open,non-overlapping position to allow easy threading of the apparatus.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention sets forth apparatus forfalsetwisting a thread by means of friction elements, which has threerotatably mounted spindles, each provided with at least one rotationallysymmetrical friction element positioned at the corners of an equilateraltriangle in plan view, so that the thread passes between the fric' tionelements in a zig-zag path. All the spindles are simultaneouslyadjustable with respect to the path of the thread and their triangularrelationship in all positions of adjustment with the center of thetriangle lying on the path of the thread.

Common simultaneous adjustment of the spindles is achieved through ahollow, axially movable mandrel with a head of variable outside diameterwhich projects between the spindles which, in turn, are urged againstthe head. The spindles can be moved from a threading to an operatingposition by an eccentric or cam means projecting between the spindles,against which each of which a respective spindle is resiliently urged.

In yet another embodiment, means is provided to effect common adjustmentof the spindles, comprising a ring enclosing the spindles and rotatableon them or engaging their housings. In each case, the device can belocked for simultaneous adjustment of the spindles.

In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention toprovide an improved false-twisting apparatus.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a false-twistingapparatus which facilitates threading of the thread or yarn between thefriction elements.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide afalse-twisting apparatus which can be opened during the threadingoperation to provide a free passage for the thread, thereby preventingdamage during insertion of the thread.

7 Still another object of the present invention is to provide afalse-twisting apparatus which can be simply and accurately threaded.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide afalse-twisting apparatus in which the friction elements can be adjusted.

Additionally, it is another object of the present invention to provide afalse-twisting; apparatus which simplities the spinning-on of theinserted thread.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a false-twistingapparatus which reduces breakage of the thread during the threadingoperation and the start of the apparatus thereafter.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide afalse-twisting apparatus which can be gradually moved from an openthreading position to a closed operating position with imparting aminimum of stress on the thread in the apparatus.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the followingdescription of serveral embodiments of the invention and the novelfeatures will be particularly pointed out hereinafter in connection withthe appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a partially sectioned sideview of falsetwisting apparatus in accordance with the presentinvention.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are cross-sections along line IIII of FIG. 1, each showinga different form of the eccentric for the simultaneous adjustment of thespindles between the open and the closed positions.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As shown in FIG. 1, the presentinvention comprises three drive units 1, each with a respective set 20of friction discs.

Each complete drive unit 1 comprises a spindle 2 which is rotatablymounted in a housing 5 in rolling bearings. On the outside ofthe-cylindrical housing 5 a ring 11 with a conical annular surface 12and a pivoting lever 13 are secured by means of a nut 14 which isscrewed onto an external screw thread on the housing 5. A pivot pin 15parallel to the spindle 2 is secured on the pivoting lever 13 by meansof a nut 16. The spindle 2 projects at both ends from the housing 5 andon that portion which lies adjacent to the pivot pin 15, a whorl 17 issecured to drive the spindle 2.

Each drive unit 1 forms a self-contained structural unit on which a set20 of friction discs can be mounted. In the case illustrated, thiscomprises three friction discs 21, each comprising a-hub and an annularflange at one end of the hub. The friction discs 21 are secured next toone another on a common locating sleeve 22.

Each set 20 of friction discs and at least one spacing ring 26 is fittedonto that portion of the spindle 2 of the associated drive unit 1 whichis furthest from the whorl 17 and the set of friction discs is connectedto the spindle to rotate therewith by means fo an annular disc 23 and ascrew 24. That end of the set of friction discs opposite the annulardisc 23 and the screw 24 abuts against an abutment ring 25 provided onthe spindle 2.

The spindles 2 of the three drive units 1 extend parallel to each otherand form in plan view the corners of an equilateral triangle. Thefriction discs 21 of the set 20 interengage one another, that is to saythe discs 21 of each set 20 overlap the discs 21 of the two other sets20.

The mutually identical sets 20 of friction discs must, therefore, bearranged on the spindles 2 of the associated drive units 1 withdifferent axial positions of the discs 21 in each case. The differentpositioning is achieved by the spacing rings 26. As shown in FIG. 1, aspacing ring 26 is provided on the spindle 2 of the lefthand drive unit1 above the set 20 of friction discs. and the same is true of thespindle 2 of the righthand drive unit 1, except that there the set 20 offriction discs is inverted. On the spindle 2 of the central drive unit 1there are two spacing rings 26, namely a taller one below and a shorterone above the set 20 of friction discs, these discs being arranged inthemselves the same way up as on the lefthand drive unit 1.

The three drive units 1 are mounted to be movable on a supporting plate30 by the pivot pins 15, each of which is inserted in a sliding bush orbushing 31 secured in the plate 30. The three bushes 31 form the cornersof an equilateral triangle with a mid-point which coincides with themid-point of the equilateral triangle defined by the spindles 2 of thethree drive units 1.

A device 32 is provided on the supporting plate 30 for the common mutualadjustment of the drive units 1 relative to the mid-point of thespindles 2 in a plane parallel to the supporting plate 30. The threedrive units 1 are resiliently urged towards one another, that is to say,toward the said common mid-point, by an elastic O-ring 33 which embracesexternally the three rings 11 of the drive units 1.

The drive is provided by two elastic O-rings 34 and 35. One O-ring 34embraces all three whorls 17 of the three drive units 1. The otherO-ring 35 embraces only one whorl 17 and is driven by a motor (notshown). All three sets 20 of friction discs, therefore, runsimultaneously and in the same direction of rotation. In place ofO-rings, other driving elements could be employed, for example, toothedbelts,

The supporting plate 30 is provided with three openings 36 through eachof which a drive unit 1 projects with its whorl 17.

The device 32 for the common mutual adjustment of the drive units 1 isarranged with its axis parallel to the spindles 2 and passing throughthe mid-point of the equilateral triangle which they define. The device32 comprises a hollow mandrel 37 with a conical head 38 on that endwhich is towards the drive units 1 and a turnbutton 39 on its other end,a guide tube 40 secured to the supporting plate 30 on that face of itwhich is furthest from the sets 20 of friction discs, and a lock nut 41.The mandrel 37 is mounted to be rotatable and axially displaceable inthe guide tube 40. Next to the turnbutton 39 it has a portion 37' oflarger outside diameter provided with an external screw thread. The locknut 41 screws onto the portion 37' and the portion 37' is also screwedinto the widened end portion 40- of the guide tube 40, the latter beingprovided with an appropriate internal screw thread.

The head 38 of the mandrel 37 has on it a conical annular surface 42which diverges towards the end. This corresponds in its inclination tothat of the conical annular surfaces 12 of the rings 11 on the driveunits 1. By means of the elastic O-ring 33 the annular surfaces 12 andthe annular surfaces 42 are urged into mutual contact.

The axial position of the mandrel 37 in the guide tube 40 thusdetermines the mutual radial separation of the sets 20 of friction discsin the closed position shown in FIG. 1, in which the friction discs 21overlap. The mandrel 37 is located in the respective axial position inthe guide tube 40 by tightening the lock nut 41 against the adjacent endof the guide tube 40. It also holds the three drive units I pressedagainst the supporting plate 30 by means of the head 38 so that thepivot pins 15 cannot jump out of their guide bushes 31.

When the mutual position of the three sets 20 of friction discs in aradial direction is to be altered then first the lock nut 41 must beslackened, that is to say, it must be screwed back on the portion 37' ofthe mandrel 37 away from the guide tube 40. Then the mandrel 37 can bemoved axially in the guide tube 40 by means of the turn-button 39. Inthe one direction of rotation of the button 39, the mandrel 37 isscrewed into the guide tube 40, leading to a simultaneous movement ofall three sets 20 of friction discs towards one another. In the otherdirection of rotation, the mandrel 37 is screwed out of the guide tube40, causing the sets 20 of friction discs to move mutually apart. Whenthe sets 20 of friction discs have reached the desired relative radialposition, the lock nut 41 is tightened again.

In this adjusting action, all three drive units 1 pivot simultaneouslyto the same extent, each pivot pin 15 moving in the associated bush 31about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the respective set 20of friction discs.

An anti-ballooning eye 43 is mounted on the free end of the turn-button39 and a sleeve-like thread guide 44 is mounted on the free end of thehead 38. Therefore, the anit-ballooning eye 43 and the thread guide 44lie coaxial or concentric with the common mid-point of those twoequilateral triangles, the corners of which are formed by the spindles 2or by the pivot pins 15 of the drive units 1.

The device serves to false-twist a thread F. This can enter from supplymeans (not shown) to pass through the anti-ballooning eye 43 into thedevice, through the hollow mandrel 37 and emerge through the threadguide 44 and run between the three sets 20 of friction discs, to leavethe device through a thread guide (not shown) above the sets 20 offriction discs to pass to a take-up device (also not shown).Alternatively, the thread F could run through the device of FIG. 3 inthe opposite direction.

In the region of the three sets 20 of friction discs the thread Ffollows a zig-zag path with changes of direction at its points ofengagement with the nine discs 21. The embracing relationships of thethread F against the friction discs 21 are ideal as the discs 21 alwaysform an equilateral triangle and thereby locate the thread F veryaccurately.

The mutual adjustment of the sets 20 of friction discs by use of thedevice 32 generally takes place with the apparatus running, that is tosay with the thread F passing through and the sets 20 of rottingfriction discs.

The O-ring 34 must be elastic enough to ensure that there is reliabledriving of the whorls 17 man the mutual positions of the sets 20 offriction discs, that is to say, of the sets 20 of friction discs drivenvia the spindles 2.

While the embodiment discussed above has adjusted the position of thespindles by moving the conical surface 42 relative to the spindlehousing 5, the adjustment process could also be performed by moving thespindle housings 5 simultaneously with respect to the Conical surface.For example, an external ring could be provided to simultaneously engagethe external threads of all three spindle housings, to move the housingsaxially in unison. relative to conical surface 42, thereby adjustingtheir relative position.

According to the invention. a hollow mandrel 101 is rotatably mounted onthe guide tube 40 between the supporting plate and a spring ring 100inserted in the guide tube 40, this mandrel having an actuating lever102 and a disc-shaped eccentric 103 which cooperates with the lower end104 of the spindle housing 5 so that angular movement of the hollowmandrel 101 by means of the lever 102 causes the sets 20 of frictiondiscs to move apart simultaneously from the closed position shown inFIG. 1 to the open position in which the discs 21 no longer overlap butleave free a central axial threading passage so that the thread F can beinserted. After threading-up, the lever 102 is turned back to theposition shown in FIG. 1 so that the drive units 1 and, therefore, thesets 20 of friction discs are moved back to the closed position shown inFIG. 1 by the O-ring 33 and/or the Oring 34. The mutual position of thefriction disc sets 20, that is to say the extend of their mutualoverlapping, is then determined by the adjustment of the device 32 asdescribed above.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, in which the closed position of the eccentric103 and the spindles 2 are each shown in full lines, and the openposition in broken lines, the eccentric 103 has three cam portions 105against each of which the end 104 of the associated housing 5 ofrespective one of the spindles 2 is urged.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, each cam portion 105 of the eccentric103 is made symmetrical with respect to a radial central line 106. Atthe radially outermost point, each cam 105 has a recess 107 too receivethe end 104 of the housing 5 of a spindle 2 in the open position.Between each adjacent pair of cams 105 there is a recess 108 to receivethe end 104 of the housing 5 of a spindle 2 in the closed position.

In order to reach the open position, the eccentric 103 of FIG. 2 can bepivoted on the guide tube 40 in each direction, that is to say, bothclockwise and also counter-clockwise from the closed position shown infull lines in FIG. 2. The eccentric 103 is located or held both in theclosed position and also in the open position as the ends 104 of thehousing lie resiliently in the re cesses 108 or 107.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, each cam portion 105 of the eccentric103 is made asymmetrical. On each end of ach cam portion 105 there is arespective substantially radially outwardly projecting stop surface 109or 110, engaged by the end 104 of the housing 5 belonging to therespective cam portion 105 in the open or closed position of the driveunits 1 and of the sets 20 of friction discs. The stop surfaces 109 and110 of two adjacent cam portions 105 are formed by the two side faces ofan eccentric projection 111. Each cam portion 105 is given asubstantially arcuate convex curvature over its central region, the arebeing eccentric with respect to the axis of rotation of the eccentric.

Also in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the eccentric 103 can be capableof snapping into the open position at least. for example, by means of asnapping device (not shown) which resiliently engages in the hollowmandrel 101. In contrast to the embodiment of FIG. 2. the eccentric l03in FIG. 3 is only capable of pivoting in a direction from the closingposition to the open position and back again.

The eccentric 103 can be mounted detachably on the hollow mandrel 101 asshown in FIG. 3. In this case, the eccentric 103 has three radialgrooves 112 in its central internal bore, in which corresponding ribs113 on the mandrel 101 engage.

It will be understood that various changes in the details, materials andarrangements of parts which have been herein described and illustratedin order to explain the nature ofthe invention may be made by thoseskilled in the art within the principle and scope of the invention, asexpressed in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for false-twisting threads by means of friction elements,comprising:

three spindles disposed to form the corners of an equilateral trianglein plan view;

means for rotatably mounting said spindles;

at least one rotationally symmetrical friction element on each spindle;

means for guiding thread in a path of travel past said frictionelements;

said rotationally symmetrical friction elements mutually overlapping tocause thread in said path of travel to follow a zig-zag path;

means for simultaneously adjusting the position of said spindles withrespect to both said path of travel of said thread and the distancebetween said corners of said equilateral triangle; and

means to move said mutually overlapping spindles to thereby move saidfriction elements into and out of mutually overlapping relationship tofacilitate threading of the apparatus when said friction elements areout of mutually overlapping relationship.

2. The apparatus for false-twisting threads according to claim 1,wherein said means for moving said spindles into and out of a mutuallyoverlapping relationship comprises:

cam means;

means to urge said sprindles to operative coaction with said cam means;and

actuating means to position said cam means to move said spindles andthereby to move said friction elements into and out of Said mutuallyoverlapping relationship.

3. The apparatus for false-twisting threads according to claim 2wherein:

said means for guiding thread comprise a tubular section disposed onsaid path of travel of said thread and adapted for the passage of threadtherethrough;

said cam means are disposed on said tubular section;

and

said actuating means to position said cam means comprise means to rotatesaid cam means.

4. The apparatus for false-twisting threads according to claim 3,wherein said cam means comprise a plurality of cam surfaces adapted tosimultaneously position said three spindles.

5. The apparatus for false-twisting threads according to claim 4,wherein said cam means is symmetrical with relation to a radiallycentral line through said cam means.

6. The apparatus for false-twisting threads according to claim 4,wherein said carn means comprise:

a cam surface for each of said spindles;

each of said cam surfaces has at its radially outermost point a recessto operatively coact with said spindles to provide an open position; and

a recess is positioned between each of said adjacent cam surfaces tooperatively coact with said spindle to produce a closed position.

7. The apparatus for false-twisting threads according to claim 4 whereinsaid cam means comprise radially outwardly directed stop means to coactwith said spindle means.

8. The apparatus for false-twisting threads according to claim 4 whereinsaid means for simultaneously adjusting the position of said spindlescomprise:

a variable surface associated with said means for guiding thread;

means to urge said spindles against said variable surface; and

means to change relative position of said spindles and said variablesurface to thereby change the distance between said spindles.

9. The apparatus for false-twisting threads according to claim 8 whereinsaid means to change the relative position of said spindles and saidvariable surface comprise: I

.means to dispose said variable surface concentrically with said meansto guide thread and to allow movement of said variable surface withrespect to said means to guide thread; and

means to fix the position of said variable surface to said means toguide thread.

10. The apparatus for false-twisting threads according to claim 9further comprising thread means to concentrically dispose said variablesurface with said means to guide thread and to allow movementtherebetween.

1. Apparatus for false-twisting threads by means of friction elements,comprising: three spindles disposed to form the corners of anequilateral triangle in plan view; means for rotatably mounting saidspindles; at least one rotationally symmetrical friction element on eachspindle; means for guiding thread in a path of travel past said frictionelements; said rotationally symmetrical friction elements mutuallyoverlapping to cause thread in said path of travel to follow a zig-zagpath; means for simultaneously adjusting the position of said spindleswith respect to both said path of travel of said thread and the distancebetween said corners of said equilateral triangle; and means to movesaid mutually overlapping spindles to thereby move said frictionelements into and out of mutually overlapping relationship to facilitatethreading of the apparatus when said friction elements are out ofmutually overlapping relationship.
 2. The apparatus for false-twistingthreads according to claim 1, wherein said means for moving saidspindles into and out of a mutually overlapping relationship comprises:cam means; means to urge said sprindles to operative coaction with saidcam means; and actuating means to position said cam means to move saidspindles and therEby to move said friction elements into and out of saidmutually overlapping relationship.
 3. The apparatus for false-twistingthreads according to claim 2 wherein: said means for guiding threadcomprise a tubular section disposed on said path of travel of saidthread and adapted for the passage of thread therethrough; said cammeans are disposed on said tubular section; and said actuating means toposition said cam means comprise means to rotate said cam means.
 4. Theapparatus for false-twisting threads according to claim 3, wherein saidcam means comprise a plurality of cam surfaces adapted to simultaneouslyposition said three spindles.
 5. The apparatus for false-twistingthreads according to claim 4, wherein said cam means is symmetrical withrelation to a radially central line through said cam means.
 6. Theapparatus for false-twisting threads according to claim 4, wherein saidcam means comprise: a cam surface for each of said spindles; each ofsaid cam surfaces has at its radially outermost point a recess tooperatively coact with said spindles to provide an open position; and arecess is positioned between each of said adjacent cam surfaces tooperatively coact with said spindle to produce a closed position.
 7. Theapparatus for false-twisting threads according to claim 4 wherein saidcam means comprise radially outwardly directed stop means to coact withsaid spindle means.
 8. The apparatus for false-twisting threadsaccording to claim 4 wherein said means for simultaneously adjusting theposition of said spindles comprise: a variable surface associated withsaid means for guiding thread; means to urge said spindles against saidvariable surface; and means to change relative position of said spindlesand said variable surface to thereby change the distance between saidspindles.
 9. The apparatus for false-twisting threads according to claim8 wherein said means to change the relative position of said spindlesand said variable surface comprise: means to dispose said variablesurface concentrically with said means to guide thread and to allowmovement of said variable surface with respect to said means to guidethread; and means to fix the position of said variable surface to saidmeans to guide thread.
 10. The apparatus for false-twisting threadsaccording to claim 9 further comprising thread means to concentricallydispose said variable surface with said means to guide thread and toallow movement therebetween.